Washington Monument Didn’t Sink After Earthquake

WASHINGTON (AP) — Government surveyors have found that the Washington Monument did not sink further into the ground as a result of last year’s 5.8-magnitude earthquake.

The upper portion of the monument sustained several large cracks during the August 2011 quake, and it likely will be closed for repairs until 2014.

Surveyors from the National Geodetic Survey examined the monument earlier this year and issued their report on Tuesday. The survey found that the earthquake caused no discernible settling of the monument.

Lead surveyor Dave Doyle says he’s a bit surprised that the monument didn’t sink, calling it a testament to the engineers who shored up its foundation in the 1880s. The monument is built on ground that was once underwater and has sunk about 2.2 inches since 1901.